Apparatus for oscillating a traveling web in paper machinery



May 18, 1965 .1. H. PEARSON 3,184,374

APPARATUS FOR OSCILLATING A TRAVELING WEB IN PAPER MACHINERY Filed Sept.24, 1962 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 FIG-2 4 U 34,

3 8 l/iz/ls SI 5 53 rm 57 28 JOHN H. PIEZVRESIZSR- BY 52 55 5a 5 9 25 aa MM; mfl

ATTORN EYS y 8, 1965 J. H. PEARSON 3,184,374

APPARATUS FOR OSCILLATING A TRAVELING WEB IN PAPER MACHINERY Filed Sept.24, 1962 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 HVVENTOR.

5 JOHN H. PEARSON ATTORNEYS United States Patent 3,184,374 AFPARATUS FOR()SCILLATING A TRAVELING WEB KN PAPER MACHINERY John H. Pearson,Water-town, N.Y., assignor to The Black Clawson Company, Hamilton, Ohio,a corporation of Ghio Filed Sept. 24, 1962, S613 No. 225,530 8 Claims.(Cl. 162-257) This invention relates to web guides and particularly to acontrol system for use with a web guide for laterally oscillating a feltor wire web on a paper making machine.

When a belt or web moves continuously over a surface for a protractedperiod of time, wearing of this web and its supporting surface oftenoccurs, thus adding unanticipated variables to the operation of theassociated machinery. This problem is especially acute when the web isdelicate, such as the wire used in a Fourdrinier paper machine, andelimination of such wearing will minimize the formation of ridges in theweb or the suction box covers over which the wire passes with consequentimprovement in the uniformity and quality of the paper. Thesedifiiculties can be substantially eliminated by laterally oscillatingthe wire with respect to its path of travel so that this wearing isevenly distributed over larger areas, greatly reducing the amount ofwear that can occur at any one location.

Accordingly, one of the principal objects of the present invention is toprovide web guide apparatus of simple construction which will oscillatea web, such as a Fourdrinier wire, in a lateral direction for preventingthe wearing of grooves or ridges in certain parts of the web andassociated equipment.

Another object of the invention is to provide a control system for a webguide which can be adapted to effect oscillatory operation of most webguides regardless of whether they control aweb which is movinghorizontally or vertically, or a combination of these directions.

Another object ofthe invention is to provide a wire or web guide with asimple compact automatic control system capable of actuating the webguide for effecting lateral oscillatory movement of the web regardlessof the path of movement of the web wherein the entire system comprisesonly a few moving parts and which is entirely mounted on one side of theWeb.

A further object of this invention is to provide a novel web guidesystem for laterally oscillating a web which will revert to thenon-oscillatory type of web guide if a portion of the system becomesinoperative for one reason or another thereby insuring that the web willremain within the permissible range of lateral movement.

Other objects and advantages of the invention will be apparent from thefollowing description, the accompanying drawings and the appendedclaims.

In the drawings FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a web guide andassociated control mechanism constructed in accordance with theinvention;

FIG. 2 is a view in side elevation, partly broken away, of the web guideof FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a schematic illustration of the control system for the webguide;

FIG. 4 is a somewhat schematic plan view illustrating the operation ofthe web guide of FIG. 1 and showing the guide roll in one limit positionof its guiding movement;

FIG. 5 is a view similar to FIG. 2 showing the guide roll in its otherlimit position;

FIG. 6 is a section view taken essentially along the line 66 of FIG. 7;

PEG. 7 is a side elevation View of one of the palms and valve assembliesfor controlling the operation of the web guide, looking from left toright in FIG. 6 with. one side removed;

FIG. 8 is a graphic illustration of the operation of the palmassemblies;

FIG. 9 is a view similar to FIG. 7 but illustrating another embodimentof the palm assembly; and

MG. 10 is a sectional View essentially along the line iii-10 of FIG. 9.

Referring to the drawings, which illustrate preferred embodiments of theinvention, FIG. 1 showsa guide 15' mounted in conjunction with a guideroll 16 for a web 18, which may be, for example, the forming wire of aFourdrinier paper machine. As illustrated diagrammatically in FIGS. 4and 5, one journal 20 of the roll 16 is supported for swinging movementby a suitablebearing, such as a spherical bearing 21', while the guide15 supports the other journal 23 for movement back and forth in responseto operation of the hereinafter described control system for effectinglateral oscillatory movement of the web 18' with respect to its path oftravel.

The web guide 15 is one of many types which can be utilized with thisinvention and the embodiment shown is substantially identical to theconstruction described and claimed in the copending application ofWalter E. Rojecki, Serial No. 69,582, filed November 16, 1960, nowPatent No. 3,079,805, issued March'S, 1963, and assigned to the assigneeas this application. The guide 15 includes a supporting frame 25comprising a base 26, end wall 27, and opposed side walls 28 (only oneof which is shown) which extend substantially higher at one end than theother.

A carriage 30 is supported on the frame 25 for swinging movement in acontrolled path wherein the axis of the journal 23 moves in asubstantially straight line parallel to the base 26. One end of thecarriage 30 is supported by a first linkage 34 pivoted by a shaft 36 onthe raised portions 37 of the walls 28, and the depending end 38 of thelinkage 34 is pivoted by a shaft 40 to the adjacent end of the carriage30. A second linkage 41 similar to linkage 34 is pivoted on the otherend of side walls 28 by a shaft 43, and its opposite end 44 is pivotedby a shaft 45 to ear portion 46 on the carriage 30.

Mounted on the end wall 27 is a fluid motor 50 which is utilizedto shiftthe position of the carriage 30 laterally as viewed in FIG. 2. The motor50 includes a piston 51 reciprocally mounted in the housing 52 anddefining a chamber 53 in conjunction with the housing 52, and therolling diaphragm 55' provides a seal between the housing 52 and thepiston51. The piston rod 56 which interconnects the piston 51 and'thecarriage 30 has a tension spring 57 disposed therearound between theconnections with the wall 27 and the carriage 30for urging the piston 15and the carriage 36 to the left, as viewed in FIG. 2. A compressionspring 58' positioned between the piston 51 and end wall 59 of thehousing 52 also aids in urging the carriage 30 and piston 51 to theleft. Movement of piston 51 is controlled by the pressure in the chamber53, and when such pressure is equal to the biasing effect of the springs57 and 58, the piston 51 and the carriage 30 are held in a central orneutral position wherein the axis of roll 16 is perpendicular to thepath of travel of the web 18 and consequently does not impart lateralforce to the web 18.

When the pressure in the chamber 53 increases above the biasing effectof the springs 57 and 58, the journal 23 will be moved toward the rightto the position indicated in broken lines in FIG. 2, wherein the roll'16- is positioned as shown in FIG. 5 for effecting lateral movement ofthe web to the left. Similarly if the pressure in the chamber 53 fallsbelow the biasing effect of the springs 57 and 58, the journal 23 of theroll 16 will be moved to the left, as viewed in FIG. 2, to the positionshown in FIG. 4 wherein the roll eifects lateral movement of the FIG. 3and includes a source P of pressurized fluid which isconnectedthr'oughavfilter F to each ofthe palm-actuated valve assemblies 60 and 61 by thelines. 63 and 64 having the pressureregulating valves 66 and 67 therein,and the lines 68 and 69, respectively. Variable restrictions 70 'may belocated in each of the lines 63vand 64 for further regulation ofthe'fiow of pressurized fluid."

Lines 63and 64, and consequently the valve assemblies 60 and 61, arealso connected to the'three-way valve 72 which at all times connects oneorthe other of the lines 63 or 64 to the line 75 and the fluid motor 50.also within the scope of the invention to insert an air volume boostingdevice in line 75 to increase the response of the apparatus. Forexample, the valve assemblies could be utilized to operate a valve whichin turn controls the flow of high pressure air to the chamber 53. Thetiming mechanism 80 is operable to shift valve 72 continuously andalternately and includes a solenoid 82 which is energized anddeenergized at preset intervals by a timer 83. When the solenoid 82 isenergized it shifts the valve 85 against the bias of spring 86'toconnect the source P to, the pneumatic actuator 90 which is connected toand positions the valve 72. When solenoid 82 is deenergized, the spring86 returns the valve 85 to the posi-- tion shown in FIG. 3 wherein thesource of pressure is no longer connected to the actuator 90, and spring91,

shifts the valve 72 to the right to the position shown in FIG. 3.pressure periodically to the actuator 90 to shift the valve 72 betweenits alternate positions and thereby to connect the lines 63 and 64alternately to the line 75.

Referring to FIG. 1, the palm-actuated valve assemblies 60 and 61 aremounted in'offset relation on-the floor or frame of the machine by apost 94'having a pair of arms 95 projecting from the upper end thereof.On the outer. end of each arm 95 is a T-connection 96, andrshort pipe.sections 97 and 98 project from theconnections 96 and. carry the valveassemblies 60 and 61, respectively, The

section 97 is shorter than the section 98 so that the assembly 61 ispositioned closer to the edge of the web 18 formed by an eccentric cam105 which is mounted for' rocking movement on the pivot pin 107 set inthe housing 100 so that the amount of fluid escaping through the hollowscrew is dependent upon the position of the cam 105. l

A bore 110 is formed in thecarn 105 for threadedly receiving .a rodi111which depends therefrom through a Thus the timing mechanism '80 suppliesfluid The assemblies 60 and 61 are substantially identical so thatwithout their relatively offset mountings, they would effect movement ofthe web 18 to the same lateral position. When the assembly 60 is offsetwith respect to assembly 61 an amount equal to the distance between thepoints c and d, assembly 60' will effect lateral movement of the webedge to a position corresponding to the point c where- .as the cam ofassembly 61 will effect movement of the webedge to a positioncorresponding to the point d.

Thus by alternately connecting these palm assemblies 60 and 61 to theweb guide the web 18 can be laterally shifted betwen points c and d.

Specifically, when the valve 72 is in the position shown in FIG; 3, thevalve assembly 60 is connected to and controlling the operation of theweb guide 15, and if the web 18is positioned between the points a and c,the cam It is' 105 of assembly 60 is positioned to increase the amountof air being bled from the lines 63 and 68 to cause the web guide 15 toshift the journal 23 to the left, as viewed in FIG. 2 ,thereby effectingmovement of the web 18 to the right, as viewed in FIG. 4. As the webmoves toward a position corresponding to point 0, the palm 115 followsand proportionally moves the cam of assembly 60 to decreasethe air beingbled from the line 63, so that when the web reaches the positioncorresponding to point e, the journal 23 is in its central or neutralposition wherein'it no longer exerts lateral forces on the web 18.

Similarly, when the web edge is between the positions b and c, the cam105 of the assembly 60 decreases the amount of air escaping from theline 64 to cause the web guide 15 to move the journal 23 to the right,as viewed in FIG. 2, with'consequent movement of the Web to the left,

as viewed in FIG. 5. When the web reaches the point 0, the element 105of assembly 60 is once again in the neutral position, and the web guide15 no longer effects the lateral position of the web 18.

When the timing mechanism shifts the valve 72 to the left from theposition shown in FIG. 3, the valve assembly 61 is connected to andcontrolling the operation of motor which urges web 18 toward a positioncorresponding to a point d, in the same manner that the assembly movesthe web to a position corresponding to point c. As indicated, the onlydifferencebetween the assemblies 60 and 61 is the offset mountingthereof and, in all other respects, the operation ofthe valve assembly61 is substantially identical with that of the valve assembly 60.

' The interval set on the timer 83 is-preferably such that as soon asthe web 18 reaches the position corre- This screw 102* M slot 112 in theunder side ofthe housing 100 and carries the palm 115 which engages theedge ofthe web 18. A spring 117 is. connected to pin 118 also threadedinto bore 110 on the top side of the valve element 105 and extends to aconnection .with the housing 100 for urging the palm 115 in acounterclockwise direction, and as viewed in FIG. 7, to hold it againstthe edge of the .web 18 for 5 sensing the lateral position thereof. .7

The operation of the control system shownin spending to the point 0 thesolenoid 82 is energized to shift valve and communicates pressure to theactuator and thus shift the valve 72 to the left, as viewed in FIG. .3.In this position, the palm assembly 61 is now in control and immediatelymakes appropriate adjustments to move the web 18 to aposition'corresponding to the point a. When the point d is reached thevalve 72 is shifted to the right, as shown in FIG. 3, and the palmassembly 60 'moves the web 18 back to the position corresponding to. thepoint e. .60

This cycling continues indefinitely. The range of lateral movement ofthe web 18 is governed by the offset-between the assemblies 60 and 61and by the time intervalset on the timer 83, and the range of lateralmovement can be shortened by decreasing the time interval set on thetimer 83 so that the valve 72'is shifted before the web 18has reachedthe position corresponding to the valve assembly then in control.

If for any reason the timer; mechanism 80 should become inoperative, thevalve assembly 60 or. 61 which is then connected to the Web guide 15will'remain in this land 3 is best described by referenceto thediagrammatic showing of FIG. 18 wherein the lateral movement of .the. 3

left edge of theweb 18 is indicated by the horizontal line.

position and move the web to and maintain it in the positioncorrespondingito valve assembly then inlcontrol. If

either of the .yalve assemblies 60 0r 61 should become inoperative forany reason, the other assembly will continue to operate as a web; guideto maintain the web 18 in a predetermined path oftravel;Forexampla'assume a fluid leak occurs in line 63 so that when valveassembly Ed is connected to the motor 56), the pressure in chamber 53 isdecreased and'the journal 23 is shifted to the left, as shown in FIG. 2with consequent movement of the web to the right, as viewed in FIG. 1.However, when the valve assembly 61 is shifted into control, the web 13is returned to the left to the position corresponding to point d thuscontinuing the oscillatory movement of the web i8.

FIGS. 9 and 10 illustrate another embodiment of the valve assemblieswhich are actuated by a single palm and wherein the eccentric cams 165aand lilfib are rigidly mounted in angularly oflset relation on the sameshaft 129 is supported for rotation in the housing 122 by the boss 123.Thus the cams, 105a and 1651; rotate together about the same axis and,as will be seen, effect operation of the web guide in the same manner asthe offset mounted valve assemblies 6%) and 61. As shown in FIG. 10, cam105a is contoured on its lower portion to permit clockwise I movementthereof after it has substantially closed the associated leak port inscrew 162a while allowing the cam 105b to rotate additionally in aclockwise direction before it can close its associated leak port inscrew 10%.

The pipe sections 97a and 93a communicate with the housing 122 and arealigned with the cams 1tl5'a and 105b, respectively, for cooperationtherewith to regulate the amount of fluid escape from the leak ports inthe screws 102a and 10211. The cam 105a has a rod 111a secured theretowith a palm (not shown) on its lower end, and a spring 117a positionedbetween the housing 122 and the pin 118a secured in the bore 11th: urgesthe cams ltlSa and 105i: in a counterclockwise direction, as viewed inFIG. 10, to position the palm against the adjacent edge of the web 18.

The rod 109a and its associated palm could be secured to the other valveelement 105]; or the shaft 120 since rotation of one effectscorresponding rotation of the other two components. Similarly, thespring 117a could be eliminated and other biasing means used so long asthe cams-l'tlSa and 165k and rod 111a are urged in a counter. clockwisedirection.

Operation of the valve assembly shown in FIGS. 9-10 differs slightlyfrom that of the FIGS. 1, 6 and 7 embodi ment as the eccentric cams 195aand 10512 are mounted on the same axis in angular offset relation foractuation by a single palm, rather than being mounted in offsetrelationship with respect to the edge of the web 13 and actuated byseparate palms as are the assemblies 60 and 61. That is, the angularposition of cam 105:: on shaft 124) is such that it effects movement ofthe web 18 to a position corresponding to point 0 whereas the angularpositioning of cam M512 on shaft 120 effects movement of the web 18 to aposition corresponding to the point d. in all other respects theoperation of this embodiment is substantially identical to that of theFIGS. 1, 6 and 7 embodiment.

The present invention has provided a web guide system which is capableof laterally oscillating a web thereby preventing excessive wear of theweb, guide rolls. suction boxes in the case of a Fourdrinier papermachine, and other associated apparatus. When one of the valve elementsor its associated circuitry is damaged and fails to operate in thedesigned manner the opposite elements will insure that the web remainswithin a permissible range of lateral movement.

While the forms of apparatus herein described constitute a preferredembodiment of the invention, it is to be understood that the inventionis not limited to these precise forms of apparatus, and that changes maybe made therein without departing from the scope of the invention whichis defined in the appended claims.

What is claimed is:

1. In a web guide assembly for controlling the lateral position of atraveling web, the combination of actuating means for controlling thelateral position of the web, a pair of substantially identical controlmeans responsive to the position of the web for said actuating means,the

first of said control means being responsive to the lateral position ofthe web for effecting the movement of said actuating means to positionthe web in a first position, the second of said control means beingresponsive to the lateral position of'the web for efiecting movement ofsaid ctuating means to position the web in a second position spaced fromsaid first position, and timer means for alternately connecting saidfirst and second control means to said actuating means for continuallyshifting the web between said first and second positions.

2. In a web guide assembly for controlling the lateral position of atraveling web, the combination of actuating means for controlling thelateral position of the web, a pair of control means for said actuatingmeans, the first of said control means being responsive to the lateralposition of the web for eifecting the movement of said actuating meanstoposition the web in a first position, the second of said control meansbeing responsive to the lateral position of the web for efiectingmovement of said actuating means to position the web in a secondposition spaced from said first position, and a timing mechanism forconnecting said first control means to and disconnecting said secondcontrol means from said actuating means when the web is in said secondposition and for connecting said second control means to anddisconnecting said first control means from said actuating means whenthe web is in said first position.

3. In a web guide assembly of the character described for laterallyoscillating a traveling web, the combination of actuating means forcontrolling the lateral position of the Web, a pair of control means forsaid' actuating means, the first of said control means being responsiveto the lateral position of the web for eflecting movement of saidactuating means to position the web in a first position, the second ofsaid control means being'responsive to the lateral position of the webfor effecting movement of said actuating means to position the web inasecond position spaced from said first position, means for alternatelyconnecting said control means to said actuating means, valve meansmovable between one position wherein said first control means isconnected to and said second control means disconnected from saidactuating means and another position wherein said second control meansis connected'to and said first control means disconnected from saidactuating means, and timing means for automatically shifting said valvemeans between said positions at predetermined intervals to effectoscillatory movement of said web between said first and secondpositions.

4. Apparatus for laterally oscillating a traveling web with respect toits path of travel, comprising fluid motor means for laterally changingthe position of the web between spaced first and second positions, acontrol system for said motor means including a source of fluidpressure, a first control circuit for interconnecting said source andsaid motor means, first valve means in said first control circuitpositioned in response to the lateral position of the web to vary thepressure in said first circuit for causing said motor means to locatethe web in said first position, a second control circuit forinterconnecting said source and said motor means, second valve means insaid second control circuit positioned in response to the lateralposition of the web to vary the pressure in said second circuit forcausing said motor means to locate the web in said second position, andmeans for alternately connecting said first and second control circuitsto said motor means.

5. Apparatus for laterally oscillating a traveling web with respect toits path of travel, comprising fluid motor means for laterally changingthe position of the web between spaced first and second positions, acontrol system for said motor means including a source of fluidpressure, a first control circuit for interconnecting said source andsaid motor means, first valve means in said first circuit positioned inresponse to the lateral position of the Web to vary the pressure in saidfirst circuit for causing said motor means to move the web to said firstposition, a sec--. ond control circuit for-interconnecting said sourceand said motor means,v second valvemeans in said second circuitpositioned in response to the lateral position of the web to vary thepressure in said second circuit for causing said motor means to move theweb to said second position, timer mechanism for connecting said firstcircuit 7 to and disconnecting said second circuit from said motor meanswhen said web is in said second position and .con-. meeting said secondcircuit to anddisconnecting said first circuit from said motor meanswhen said web is in said first position.

6. Apparatus for laterally oscillating a traveling Web with respect to.its path of travel, comprising fluid motor means for laterally changingthe position of the Web between spaced first and second positions, acontrol system for said motor means including a source of fluidpressure, a first control circuit for interconnecting said source andsaid motor means, first valve means in said first circuit positioned inresponse to the lateral position ofthe web to vary the pressure in saidfirst circuit for causing said motor means to locate the web in saidfirst position, a second control circuit for interconnecting said sourceand said motor means, second valve means in said second circuitpositioned in response to the lateral position of the Web to vary thepressure in said second circuit for causing said motor means to locatethe web in said second position, control valve means movable between afirst position wherein said first circuit isconnectedto and said second.circuit disconnected from said motor means and a second position whereinsaid second circuit is connected to and said first circuit disconnectedfrom said motor means, and timing means for automatically shifting saidcontrol valve means between said'first and second positions atpredetermined intervals to effect oscillatory movement of said webbetween said first and second position.

7. Apparatus for laterally oscillating a traveling web with respect toits path oftravel, comprising fluid motor means for laterally changingthe position of the web between spaced first and second positions, acontrol system for said motor means including a source of fluidpressure, a first control circuit for interconnecting'said source andsaid motor means and having a first leak port therein, first valve meansin said first circuit including a first palm biased against one edge ofthe web for sensing the lateral position thereof and a firsteccentrically'mounted valve element pivoted by said palm for controllingflow of fluid ,through said first leak port to..cause said motor meansto move the web toward said first position, a second control circuit forinterconnecting said source and said motor means and having a secondleak port therein, second, valve means insaid second circuit including asecond palm biased against the one edge of the web for sensing thelateral position thereof and a second eccentrically mounted valveelement pivoted by said second palm for controlling flow of fluidthrough said second leak port to cause said motor means to move the webtoward said second position, and means for alternately connecting saidfirst and second circuits to said motor means. f

8. Apparatus for laterally oscillating a traveling web with respect toits path of travel, comprising fluid motor means'for laterally changingthe position of the web between spaced first and second positions, acontrol system for said motor means including a source of fluidpressure, a first control circuit for interconnecting said source andsaid motor means and having a first leak port therein, first valve meansin said first circuit including a palm biased against one edge of theweb for sensing the lateral position thereof and a first eccentricallymounted valve element pivoted by said palm for controlling flow of fluidthrough said first leak port to cause said motor means to move thewebtoward said first position, a second control circuit for interconnectingsaid source and said motor means and having a second leak port therein,second valve means in said second circuit including a secondeccentrically mounted valve element pivoted by said palm for controllingflow of fiuid through said second leak port to cause said motor means tomove the web toward said second position, and means for alternatelyconnecting said first and second circuitsto said motor means.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,530,122 11/50Hornbostel 74-241 2,635,475 4/53 Hornbostel 74241 2,819,655 1/58Beachler 162--355 2,877,013 3/59 Wendshuh et al. 74241 2,988,141 '6/61Madden et a1. l62257 3,009,364 11/61 Beachler 74-241 3,079,805 3/62Rojecki 162257 DONALL H, SYLVESTER, Primary Examiner.

' MORRIS O. WOLK, WILLIAM B. KNIGHT, Examiners.

1. IN A WEB GUIDE ASSEMBLY FOR CONTROLLING THE LATERAL POSITION OF ATRAVELING WEB, THE COMBINATION OF ACTUATING MEANS FOR CONTROLLING THELATERAL POSITION OF THE WEB, A PAIR OF SUBSTANTIALLY IDENTICAL CONTROLMEANS RESPONSIVE TO THE POSITION OF THE WEB FOR SAID ACTUATING MEANS,THE FIRST OF SAID CONTROL MEANS BEING RESPONSIVE TO THE LATERAL POSITIONOF THE WEB FOR EFFECTING THE MOVEMENT OF SAID ACTUATING MEANS TOPOSITION THE WEB IN A FIRST POSITION, THE SECOND OF SAID CONTROL MEANSBEING RESPONSIVE TO THE LATERAL POSITION OF THE WEB FOR EFFECTINGMOVEMENT OF SAID ACTUATING MEANS TO POSITION THE WEB IN A SECONDPOSITION SPACED FROM SAID FIRST POSITION, AND TIMER MEANS FORALTERNATELY CONNECTING SAID FIRST AND SECOND CONTROL MEANS TO SAIDACTUATING MEANS FOR CONTINUALLY SHIFTING THE WEB BETWEEN SAID FIRST ANDSECOND POSITIONS.